Disadvantaged / Minority Business Enterprise Program

Program Overview

The mission of the Disadvantaged / Minority Business Enterprises Program shall be to serve the Citizens of Maryland by supporting, promoting and ensuring equitable and fair treatment for all minority and disadvantaged businesses.

The Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) objective is to provide supportive services to Disadvantaged / Minority Business Enterprises (D/MBEs) conducting business with or seeking to conduct business with SHA. Supportive services are those activities and services that are designed to contribute to the growth and eventual self-sufficiency of D/MBEs so that they may achieve proficiency in competing for contracts and subcontracts. The State of Maryland ’s D/MBE goal program strives to reach a minimum of 25% minority participation on all contracts; with sub-goals of 10% for Women owned firms and 7% for African American owned firms. One of the primary objectives of the D/MBE Supportive Services Program is to increase the number of certified D/MBEs participating in the highway program and to contribute to the growth and eventual self-sufficiency of D/MBE firms.

Another component of the D/MBE Program is monitoring contractors and consultants, both prime and D/MBE firms, for compliance with state and federal regulations. In doing so, OEO has established the D/MBE Compliance Review Process as a necessary step to ensure the integrity of the program is accomplished. SHA’s Office of Equal Opportunity oversees the compliance process with assistance from the District EEO Officers, Program Managers and field personnel who are also charged with the responsibility of monitoring the D/MBE program. It is their responsibility to verify that the contracting and consulting firms are in accordance with the above regulations, programs, and guidelines. Compliance is monitored on all contracts administered by SHA, including construction, maintenance, consultant services, information technology, and architectural and engineering.